System of electrical distribution.



No. 854,121. PATENTED MAY 21, 190?.

' S. B. STORER.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

APPLIOATIOK FILED AUG. 10, 1905.

GENERATOR FIELD -RELATIVE P SITIVE RELATIVE N EGATI VE FIE UNITED sTA'rns PATENT OFFICE SYS'TEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 190-7.

Application filed August 10, 1906. seen No. 273,641.

trical Distribution, of which theiollowing,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in electric current regulators for maintaining approximately a definite or predetermined vo tage or liltGIlSltY of the currentat any point or points in a system of electrical dlstribution, such, for instance, as a lighting or power circuit. Aside from hand-regulation, or what may. be termed manual control, this predetermined voltage or intensity of the current. may be maintained through the medium of an electric motor, or its equivalent, and suitable electro-mechanical devices which are brought into action by fluc tuations of the current, or voltage to be regulated, to govern the, action of the motor, the latter serving to operate a variable electrical resistance device in connection with dynamos for the purpose of introducing with resistances havin into the circuit more or less resistance as the current fluctuates above or below the nor- I mal or predetermined voltage or intensity,

or such motor may be employed to operate any other form of voltage or current regulating device, or devices. n

I In some instances, the means for controlling the action of the motor is purely mechanical, and in other instances, a combined electrical and mechanical means is employed, but the broad object of my invention is to govern this action of theJ-motor wholly and solely by electrical means, consisting in this instance, of a specially designed Wheatstone bridge, which is connected in series with one of the two essential parts of the motor, while the other part of said motor is connected across the normally neutral points of the bridge/ This object, more specifically stated, is to construct a Wheatstone bridge certain individual and relative electrical c aracteristics whereby an electrical balance is established under normal conditions of the current or'voltage, but under the fluctuations of such conditions above or below normal, these characteristics are such as to cause thecurrent toflow in one direction or the other through the part of the motor, as the field or armature, which may i bon, is negative.

be connected across the bridge to the normally neutral points of said bridge, the relative direction of fiow depending upon the thermal conditions of the resistances which are located in the four sides of the bridge, as

hereinafter more fully described.

Another object is to provide means to compensate for changeable line-loss due to load luctuations in the main circuit and to keep the voltage of this circuit constant at the receiving, rather than at the generating end of such circuitQ Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system of electrical distribution showing the application of my invention thereto and in which the motor field forms a part of the cross connection of the bridge. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the Wheatstone bridge seen in Fig. 1 except that the motor armature is connected across the bridge;

- In order to clearly demonstrate the prac-.

ticability and operativeness of my invention,

I have shown in the drawings-a diagrammatrc view of a portlon of the main circuit is connected by a wire 3- to receive current from an electric circuit ,4 and 7-, the voltage of which is to be regulated.

The sides ofthe bridge leading to one side of the motor-field 1, are provided with electrical resistances 5 and.6 of (interent electrical characteristics, while the other sides of the bridge leading to the" opposite side of the field -1 are provided with resistances 5 and 6 which also differ in their electrical characteristics, but are similar to the resistances 5 and 6 respectively so that two unlike resistances are connected in series in the sides of the bridge, but in reverse order, as shown. The function of these resistance parts is dependent upon their relative thermal conditions, the resistances 5 and 5', which are preferably of iron, havinga positive temperature co-efficient relative to the parts 6 and 6, and it, therefore, follows that' the relative temperature cO eflicient of the arts 6- and 6, hich are preferably or car- In other Words, the elec- IIO trical resistance in each of the arts and 5- varies directly with the rise andiall of the temperature oi such parts, while the electrical resistance oi each of the arts 6- and i5 varies inversely with t 1e rise and fall of temperature therein so that any increase,. or decrease of temperature in the parts --5 or 5, respectively, (-OTTESPOHd'? ingly increases or diminishes the resistance therein, but the increase or'decrease in the temperature of the parts 6' and 6-, respectively, correspondingly diminishes or increases the resistance in said parts. It is obvious that the temperature of these resistance parts is controlled by the degree of voltage in the circuit from which they receive current and that at a certain degree of voltagein the parts -5 and -6-, and 5 and 6 the resistances in the bridge become equal or balanced and no current will flow through the motor-field 1. These resistances Jrand 6 and 5 and 6 are, therefore, selected and adjusted so as to be substantially balanced at such voltage as it may be desirable to maintain in the circuit -4.- and 7. Now, assuming, that this normal voltage and an electric balance is established, then any increase in the voltage of the current passing into the bridge will cause a rise of temperature in all of the resistance parts 5 and 5 and 6 and 6, thereby increasing the resistance in the parts 5 and 5 and diminishing the re sistance in the parts 6 and 6. Under such conditions, it is evident that more current will flow through the resistances 6 and 6 than through the parts 5 and 5 and that the difierence between the two values of current will flow through the motor-field 1, it being understood that the armature 2 of the motor is connected in series with the bridge. This causes the ar mature to be rotated in one direction to opcrate a variable resistance device or current or voltage regulator 8, which is connected to and actuated by the motor to cut in or out more or less resistance or ste s in a voltage regulator until the normal vo tags is restored in the main circuit. hand, should the voltage in the circuit -'4- and 7 fall below normal then the temperature in all the resistance parts 5 and -5 and 6- and 6 would also fall, thereby lowering the electrical resistance in the parts 5 and 5 and at the same time increasing the resistance in the parts 6- and 6 so that the larger current would then flow in the parts '5 and 5, while the difference would flow through the motor-field 1*, but in a direction opposite to that previously taken, thus reversing the action of the motor and the variable resistance device or voltage regulator controlled by said motor to again restore the current to normal voltage. These operations are re- On the other pcated automatically as often as the current inthe main circuit fluctuates above or below a normal, or predetermined voltage, and owing to the sensitivencss and delicacy of operation of a bridge of this character, it is evident that the current'will be held very closely to the normal or predetermined voltage with but slight fluctuations.

in connection with the device just described, it may be desirable to maintain a constant voltage in the circuit at some distance from the dynamo, or other generator, or wherever the regulator is placed, and I, therefore electrically connect a variable resistance device, as a rheostat -10 in series with and between the bridge and the main feed-wire, and also electrically connect the winding of a solenoid in the main circuit. with its movable plunger mechanically connected to'the movable member of the rheostat so that any current in the main circuit energizes the solenoid and operates the rheostat to cut in more or less resistance 10- in the circuit through the bridge so that the drop in voltage through the resistance -1() would be the same, or practically the same as the drop in the main circuit to the point at which the constant voltage is to be maintained. The action of the plunger of the solenoid 11 is opposed by suitable means, as a spring 12- which serves to return the rheostat-contact-arm to its off or out position when there is no current flowing in the main circuit 4 and 7.

It will be seen that the two parts of the motor may be interchanged vor substituted, one for the other, without ailecting the action of the device. That is, the motor armature may be placed across the bridge instead of the motor field '1 in which case the motor-field would be connected in'series' with the bridge. I

The operation of my improved electric current-regulator is fully set forth in the foregoing descriptive matter, and while I am aware that various manual and mechanical means have been employed to maintain a definite or predetermined voltage in an electric circuit, I believe that I am the first to employ purely electrical means for this urpose, and particularly in the use of one o the motor parts, as a connection across the neutral points of a Wheatstone bridge, whereby the rise or fall of the current in the main circuit above or below a predetermined voltage causes the motor to rotate in opposite direw tions for the purpose of varying the resistance or voltage which is to be introduced into the main circuit.

What I claim:

1. An electric current regulator including resistances having different temperature coefficients in which an electrical balance is established under a predetermined voltage or current intensity, and means brought into ICC action by fluctuations above or below such predetermined voltage or current intensity to restore such balance.

2. An electric cugrent regulator comprising resistances having difl'erent temperature co-ellicients in which an electrical balance is established under a predetermined voltage,

an electrically operated device brought into action by fluctuations above or below such redetermined voltage, and means actuated liy said device to restore such balance.

3. An electric current regulator comprising an electrical balance including therein resistances having different temperature coeliicients, anelectric motor actuated in reverse directions by fluctuations above or below a redetermined voltage or current value by w ich the balance is established, and means actuated by the motor to restore such balance.

' 4. An electric current regulator comprising an electrical balance including therein resistances having difierent temperature coellicients in which the balance is destroyed by fluctuations above or below a predetermined voltage or. current intensity, an electric motor actuated in reverse directions by such fluctuations, and means actuated by the motor to introduce more or less resistance to restore such balance.

5. An electric circuit and an electric balance deriving current therefrom and held in balance under a predetermined voltage or current intensity, said balance including resistances having different temperature coefficients an electric motor actuated in reverse directions by fluctuations above or below such predetermined voltage or current intensity, and means actuated by the motor for introducing more or less resistance to restore such balance.

6. An electric current regulator including therein a Wheatstone bridge including resistances having different temperature coefficients and electrically balanced under a predetermined voltage or current, and means brought into action by fluctuations above and below such predetermined voltage or current to keep the bridge approximately in balance said motor having one of its windings in series with the bridge.

7. An electric circuit including therein a Wheatstone bridge including resistances having different temperature co-efficients and balanced under a predetermined current or voltage, and means brought into action by fluctuations above or below such predetermined voltage or current for actuating'the regulator.

8. An electric circuit including therein a- Wheatstone bridge including resistances having difierent temperature co-eflicients and balanced under a predetermined voltage or current intensity, an electric motor actuated by fluctuations above or below such predetermined voltage or current intensity, and means actuated by the motor to introduce more or less voltage in the circuit whereby the balance of the bridge is restored.

9. In a system of electrical distribution, means for approximately maintaining a predetermined voltage or current intensity in such system including a Wheatstone bridge 11. In a system of electrical distribution,

means for approximately maintaining a predetermined voltage or current intensity in such system including a Wheatstone bridge and an electric motor having one of its ele ments forming the cross connection of the bridge, and its other element connected in series therewith, and means actuated by the motor for introducing more or less resistance whereby the electrical balance of the bridge is restored.

12. In a system of electrical distribution, a current regulator comprising a Wheatstone bridge deriving current from the system and balanced under a predetermined voltage or current intensity, an electric motor having one of its elements connecting the normally neutral points of the bridge and its other element in series therewith, and means actuated by the motor to keep the current or voltage approximately constant in the system.

13. In a system of electrical distribution, a Wheatstone bridge deriving current from said system, and including in its branches resistances of difierent tem erature co -efii cients and an electric motor aving one of its elements forming the cross connection of the bridge.

14. In a system of electrical distribution, resistances of different temperature co-eflicients deriving current from said system and balanced under a predetermined current intensity or voltage, and means brought into action by the unbalancing of the resistances for maintaining approximately a constant voltage or current in the system.

15. In a system of electrical distribution, a Wheatstone bridge deriving current from said system and balanced under a predetermined voltage or current, said bridge including in its branches resistances having different temperature co efficients an electric motor having one of its elements forming the cross connection of the bridge, whereby the motor is actuated in reverse directions as the current flows in reverse directions relative to the other element of the motor through said cross connection due to fluctuations above or below the rent in the bridge.

16. Ina system of electrical distribution, a Wheatstone bridge having unlike resistances receiving current from said system and balanced under a predetermined voltage or current, the unlike resistances having different temperature co-eflicients, an electric motor having one of its parts forming the cross connection of the bridge and its other part in series with the bridge whereby the motor is actuated by the flow of current through such connection, and means actuated by the moa tor to maintain approximately a constant voltage or current in the system.

17. In a system of electrical distribution, a Wheatstone bridge deriving current from the system and having normally balanced electricalresistances which vary in degree at the same temperature as effected by the rise and fall of the voltage or current, a motor having one of its windings forming the cross connection of the bridge, whereby the motor is actuated when the resistances are unbalanced and means actuated by the motor to regulate the current or voltage in the system.

redetermined voltage or cur- 18. An electric current or voltage regulator including thereina Wheatstone bridge having in each branch resistances of different electrical characteristics, the resistance in one of said branches varying directly and that of the other inversely'with its thermal changes.

19. An electric current regulator including therein two connected branch conductors deriving current from the same source, the resistance of one varying directly and that of the other inversely with its change of temperature, and a motor winding forming a cross connection between said branches.

20. An electric regulating device comprising two branch conductors connected at their ends and deriving current from the same source and each having two unlike resistances normally in electrical balance with those of the other branch, one resistance of each branch varying directly and the other inversely as its temperature changes, a motor winding forming across connection between said branches, and a rheostat current regulator actuated by the motor.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of July 1905.

' SIMON- B. STORER.

Witnesses:

H. E. CHASE, M. M. New. 

